List of plants in the family Cucurbitaceae | Edible, Gourds, Squashes | Britannica (original) (raw)

The gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, consists of about 975 species across 98 genera. Members of the family are annual or perennial herbaceous plants; many are climbing or trailing vines with characteristic tendrils. The flowers are often showy and unisex and produce large fruits known as pepos. The following is a list of some of the major genera and species in Cucurbitaceae, arranged alphabetically by common name.

• squash (genus Cucurbita)
  • pumpkin (C. pepo, sometimes C. moschata)
  • winter squash (C. maxima)

This article was most recently revised and updated by Melissa Petruzzello.